By Lori Mork
2. Fire starters. Because they have a high resin content, they catch fire easily and sustain a hot burn.
3. Potpourri. Splash them with cinnamon oil and place in a decorative basket.
4. Place card holders. Cut a 4-inch piece of wire. Wrap wire around tip of pine cone several times to secure it, and then twist end into a curl. Slide name card into curled wire.
5. Decorations. Dip in paint and sprinkle with glitter to coordinate with your holiday decor or add to pine boughs for an outdoorsy look.
6. Pest deterrent. Put larger ones in flower beds in the summer to keep dogs and cats from scratching and digging.
7. Crafts. Do an Internet search for pine cone crafts and you’ll find hundreds of ideas!
8. Gift wrap accents. Tie a couple onto a gift with pretty ribbon for a unique look.
9. Planters. Put under the soil in the bottom of flowerpots to provide drainage.
10. Mulch. Place in a thick layer around the base of trees or over gardens for the winter to provide acidity to the soil.